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Global Leaders Join The B Team To Help Create A Just And Thriving Economy

09/23/2015

The B Team announced today that Marc Benioff, Chairman and CEO of Salesforce, Sharan Burrow, General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation and Bob Collymore, CEO of Safaricom will join the team alongside co-founders Sir Richard Branson and Jochen Zeitz, and 14 other global leaders working collectively to redefine the role of business in society.

Marc Benioff will work with Sir Richard Branson, Founder of the Virgin Group, Arianna Huffington, Co-Founder, President & Editor-in-Chief, The Huffington Post, Guilherme Leal, Co-Founder of Natura and Blake Mycoskie, Founder of TOMS Shoes, on The B Team’s 100% Human at Work Initiative to make work a place where people can thrive and realise their full potential by improving employee wellbeing, increasing diversity, and ensuring equality and fair pay.

“I’m thrilled to join a group of leaders who are committed to making business a force for positive change,” said Marc Benioff, Chairman and CEO, Salesforce. “Every company must serve the interests of all stakeholders—not just shareholders, but also their customers, employees, communities and the environment. We have an obligation to make the world a better place for generations to come.”

Sharan Burrow, who represents 176 million workers in 162 countries and territories, will join the Team alongside Bob Collymore, who leads Kenya’s largest company and leading mobile network operator. Burrow and Collymore will collaborate with all of The B Team Leaders on a new initiative to galvanise business action to meet the Global Goals for Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

Burrow and Collymore will also work with Dr. Mo Ibrahim, Founder of Celtel, and Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former Minister of the Economy and Finance of Nigeria, to lead The B Team’s Governance & Transparency Initiative to tackle corruption in business, widely seen as one of the biggest barriers to achieving the Global Goals.

On joining The B Team, Burrow said: “We urgently need to transition our economy, but this time, it needs to be a just transition, one that creates jobs in the places where employment is most needed and supports vulnerable workers and communities. The B Team can help accelerate transformation, with companies leading by example, using their voice, and collaborating with each other. Business, unions and civil society must work together to create a better life for workers and a safer world for all.”

Collymore further commented: “We all have a role to play in leveling the playing field for the next generation of entrepreneurs, in rooting out corruption and ensuring companies respect the boundaries set by nature. As business leaders, we can build a sustainable future where no one is left behind. I’m delighted to work alongside this committed group to make it happen.”

“We are thrilled to welcome such committed and accomplished Leaders to the team,” Zeitz said. “They bring a wealth of experience, ideas and expertise and share our commitment to action. They will help scale-up our efforts and expand our reach. We look forward to working together to accelerate progress and grow the movement.”